• A phone call out of the blue from an extended family member in

need of money because they’re stranded or just got in an accident.

• An email message promising a lump sum of cash.

• A telemarketer from an unknown charity calling to ask for a

donation.

• A smooth-talking investor who claims to have a fool-proof way to

ensure a financially worry-free retirement.

These are just a few examples of real scams by hard-to-catch

criminals preying on senior citizens.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

That’s good advice that’s been around a long time.

And you should keep that in mind any time someone asks you

for money, personal information, or promises you a windfall of

money or life-changing investment.

People over the age of 60 are scammed out of an

estimated $2.9 billion a year, according to the MetLife

Mature Market Institute.

Check out these Top 10 Senior Scams and how to avoid them, published by the

National Council on Aging. And follow these five tips to avoid being a victim of a

scam:

1. Protect your mail. Have your mail sent to a post office

box, or get a locking mailbox installed if your mailed is

delivered at home. If you regularly receive checks in the

mail, arrange for direct deposit to have those funds sent

directly to your bank account.

2. Add your name to the Do Not Call Registry. You’ll

significantly reduce the amount of calls you get from

telemarketers by adding your name to this created by the

Federal Communications Commission. Call 888-382-1222

to register by phone, or go to www.donotcall.gov to register

online.

3. Read the fine print. Anytime an offer for things like a

sweepstakes lottery, vacation package, time share,

membership program, or contest that says you won

something, read the fine print before signing anything or

handing over your credit card number.

4. Beware of Medicare fraud. Medicare fraud costs an

estimated $60 million a year, and many of the scams involve

seniors. If someone is trying to get you to enroll in a

Medicare-approved program going door-to-door, or asking for

personal income information and your bank account number,

it’s probably a scam. If you need help with Medicare, call 800-

633-4227 or visit www.medicare.gov.

5. Ask lots of questions and never make a decision on the

spot. Scammers want to scare you into giving up personal

information. When you get a call that seems questionable, ask

for a name and number to return the phone call. Try to find out

how they got your number. Check with your bank, family

members, credit card company, etc. to find out if their request

is legitimate.

Follow these guidelines and keep your savings safe!

Information provided by MagicKitchen.com.